Freight vehicle cold-formed steel (GB/T6726-1986)

Cold-formed Steel in Automotive Logistics

The use of cold-formed steel in automotive logistics has become increasingly popular in recent years. The potential benefits of this lightweight and cost-effective metal have been observed by many companies in this field, leading to higher adoption rates for cold-formed steel in many applications. This article endeavors to provide an introduction to the application of cold-formed steel in automotive logistics and to explore the fundamental properties and benefits that it offers.

Cold-formed steel is a metal formed through an industrial process involving the mechanical stretching, deformation or drawing of sheet metal into the desired shape. It is commonly used for automotive components such as frames and leveling arms, as well as for body panels.

The most common type of cold-formed steel in automotive logistics is “cold-rolled” or “cold-bent” steel. This type of cold-formed steel is created by exposing the steel to temperatures below its recrystallization temperature, which is 815 degrees Celsius (1499 Fahrenheit). This process reduces the grain size of the steel, resulting in a harder material with higher strength, higher fatigue resistance and improved weldability. Cold-rolled steel is also less prone to cracking and locking, making it more suitable for thin-wall applications such as primed automobile body panels.

Cold-formed steels offer several advantages over traditional steels, which makes them an ideal material for automotive applications. First, cold-formed steel is significantly lighter than traditional steel of the same strength, making it a cost-effective choice for lightweight components in automotive applications. Additionally, compared to traditional steels, cold-formed steels have higher fatigue resistance and resistance to impact, making them well suited for use in components subject to shocks or vibrations. Lastly, cold-formed steel can be easily shaped, making it ideal for components with special shapes and contours.

However, there are some disadvantages to using cold-formed steel in automotive logistics. As cold-formed steels are subject to temperature restrictions, they must be stored and processed in a certain temperature range to ensure optimal performance. Additionally, they are subject to a greater degree of brittleness at low temperatures, and their welding properties can be significantly impacted by impurities if not adequately protected.

In conclusion, cold-formed steel has become a popular choice for automotive components and logistics due to its cost-effectiveness, lighter weight and greater fatigue resistance. While it does have some drawbacks, many of these can be avoided or minimized through proper handling and maintenance. As a result, it is likely that the adoption of cold-formed steel in automotive logistics will continue to increase in the years to come.

Cold Bend Steel (GB/T6726-1986)

Cold bend steel is a kind of steel which is able to be bend without heating it up. It is widely used in manufacturing of freight transport automobile. This kind of steel has good processability, high strength and abrasion resistance.

GB/T6726-1986 is the standards for this kind of steel. The basic requirements of the steels include chemical composition, mechanical properties and requirements for annealed state, as well as cold bend performance.

As for chemical composition, the recommendation for carbon, silicon, manganese, phosphorous, sulfur and copper content is 0.06~0.15, not more than 0.40%, 0.30~0.60%, not more than 0.05%, not more than 0.03%, not more than 0.035%.

Mechanical properties requirements include yield strength and tensile strength, as well as elongation rate, where the yield strength should not be less than 248MPa, the tensile strength should not be less than 450MPa, and the elongation rate should not be less than 5%.

Annealed state requirement and cold bend performance requirement should also meet the requirements of the standards. The cold bend performance should conform to relevant requirements affecting the grade and cold bend performance of the steels, as well as the behaviors during bend.

For meeting of the cold bend steel standards, a producer of this kind of steel should believe in inspection, as well as quality control on entire process from manufacturing steel to dimensionst as well as mechanical properties according to the standard requirements. Furthermore, they should monitor the defect and non-conformity on their production, evaluate the status and trend of quality, all in order to maintain, improve and guarantee the quality of the steel.